probably, the tragedy
of the lady's position, or the sanctity of that of the gentleman. There
was comedy in the idea of the Doctor having sent one husband away to
America to look after the other while he consoled the wife in England.
"It must be admitted," said the writer, "that the Doctor has the best of
it. While one gentleman is gouging the other,--as cannot but be
expected,--the Doctor will be at any rate in security, enjoying the smiles
of beauty under his own fig-tree at Bowick. After a hot morning with
'_tupto_' in the school, there will be 'amo' in the cool of the evening."
And this was absolutely sent to him by some good-natured friend!

The funny writer obtained a popularity wider probably than he had
expected. His words reached Mrs. Stantiloup, as well as the Doctor, and
were read even in the Bishop's palace. They were quoted even in the
'Broughton Gazette,' not with approbation, but in a high tone of moral
severity. "See the nature of the language to which Dr. Wortle's conduct
has subjected the whole of the diocese!" That was the tone of the
criticism made by the 'Broughton Gazette' on the article in 'Everybody's
Business.' "What else has he a right to expect?" said Mrs. Stantiloup to
Mrs. Rolland, having made quite a journey into Broughton for the sake of
discussing it at the palace. There she explained it all to Mrs. Rolland,
having herself studied the passage so as fully to appreciate the virus
contained in it. "He passes all the morning in the school whipping the
boys himself because he has sent Mr. Peacocke away, and then amuses
himself in the evening by making love to Mr. Peacocke's wife, as he calls
her." Dr. Wortle, when he read and re-read the article, and when the jokes
which were made upon it reached his ears, as they were sure to do, was
nearly maddened by what he called the heartless iniquity of the world; but
his state became still worse when he received an affectionate but solemn
letter from the Bishop warning him of his danger. An affectionate letter
from a bishop must surely be the most disagreeable missive which a parish
clergyman can receive. Affection from one man to another is not natural
in letters. A bishop never writes affectionately unless he means to
reprove severely. When he calls a clergyman his "dear brother in Christ,"
he is sure to go on to show that the man so called is altogether unworthy
of the name. So it was with a letter now received at Bowick, in which the